Bonnie Allen

Bonnie Lee Allen, 64, of Bridgewater, passed away peacefully on Saturday November 6, 2021 at Overlook Hospital following a 5 - 1/2 year long and courageous battle with cancer.

Bonnie was born January 17, 1957 in Morristown, NJ, the daughter of John Richard and Albina (Szarek) Allen.  Bonnie was the oldest of four children.  She grew up in central NJ with her sister, Carolyn and foster parents John and Antonette (Patullo) Zajaczkowski.  Bonnie graduated from Middlesex High School in 1975, and held degrees from Middlesex County College, Kean University and Rutgers University.

Bonnie worked in marketing at Franklin State Bank and United Jersey Bank until 1993.  Later,  Bonnie founded  Somerville Center Antiques which for many years ran retail businesses in Somerville known as ”Downtown at Somerville Center”, “Uptown at Somerville Center”,  and “Back Home Again”.  She also owned and operated Central Jersey Liquidators up until her death. 

Bonnie was an active member of the Somerville DMC and an active volunteer with Easter Seals of NJ.  Bonnie also founded Allen Travel which organized the Antonette Zajaczkowski Memorial Pilgrimage (visiting shrines in Canada for over 35 years) along with bus trips to other local church festivals.

Bonnie was predeceased by her brother Gregg Allen in 2018 and her parents.

Bonnie is survived by her husband (of 29 years) George Thode, their beloved children Alexander Thode (19) and Irina Thode (16), sister Carolyn Sullivan and brother in law Frank Sullivan all of Bridgewater, brother John Allen of Bloomsburg, PA and sister in law Michele Allen (wife of her late brother Gregg) of State College, PA, many nieces and nephews, and her very dedicated business staff that she affectionately called her extended family.

Visiting hours will be held from 2-4 PM on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at the  Bridgewater Funeral Home, 707 East Main Street, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. A funeral mass will be offered 10AM on Friday, November 12, 2021 at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1890 Washington Valley Road, Martinsville, NJ 08836.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bonnie Allen, please visit our floral store.